Keurig K15 Review 2024 – Should You Buy This Budget Keurig?

I’m not a big fan of exploring the great outdoors, but when I have to I like to take as much home comfort with me as I can!

That means a camper van as a minimum, and a decent cup of coffee to start the day with too.

I’ve reviewed a number of Keurig’s smaller coffee brewer machines in recent years.

In my Keurig K15 single serve coffee maker review, I’ve taken a detailed look at one of the more popular mini coffee machines in the range.

(My guide to brewing coffee at home contains plenty more tutorials and buying tips!)

(This article includes affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.)

What To Look For In A Single Serve Coffee Maker

Portable single serve coffee makers like the Keurig K15 are designed to get a fantastic cup of coffee in you nice and quickly.

They should achieve this with as little fuss as possible, and without leaving you with a big old mess to clear up. They are also discreet by design, so you lose the minimum counter space.

The mini K15 in particular is targeted at those of you who want a Keurig machine, but don’t have a lot of space to play with. That might be because you have a small kitchen, you live in student accommodation, or you want a machine you’ll be moving around a lot.

Regardless of your living arrangements though, compact is always good in my book.

If you want to make more than one cup of coffee at a time though, you should make sure your Keurig machine comes with a built-in water reservoir as well. This makes it much easier to brew many cups of coffee, and do so faster.

In this case, you might consider a machine like the Keurig K55 or the Keurig K250 instead of the Keurig Mini K15 – especially if you’re likely to be hosting guests frequently.

Here are a few other things to consider before settling on a particular coffee maker.

Size & Design Of The Keurig Coffee Brewer

Think about the amount of space you have available before settling on a Keurig coffee maker. Once you’ve checked out the specs, make sure you still have space on top to add in pods, water and what have you.

In terms of design, most Keurig machines are available in the standard black or white colours. Certain models have an assortment of colours to choose from if you want something a little more eye-catching.

Your Pod Coffee Maker & K-Cup Compatibility

Some Keurig machines will accommodate a huge variety of branded and non-branded pods. Others are restricted to official products only.

If you want to use your favourite ground coffee, you should also make sure that the Keurig machine you by is compatible with the My K-Cup Reusable Ground Coffee Filter.

The Size Of The Water Reservoir

If you need to make coffee for many people, it’s a good idea to buy a Keurig machine with an appropriately sized water reservoir.

10 ounces for a single cup is a realistic amount to plan for.

That will save having to refill the thing over and over, and also reduce brewing time.

Keurig K15 Single Serve Coffee Maker

Keurig’s K15 Mini is one of the simplest coffee machines in the company’s range.

The promise here is simple: you’ll get the full Keurig coffee experience, from a machine that’s budget-friendly and won’t hog counter space.

That compact, entry-level design means you do miss out on some of the features found in machines further up the Keurig line though.

The brewing system of the K15 lacks brew strength features, for example, and there’s no water tank at all!

If you want a very portable, compact Keurig coffee brewer though, then this fits the bill nicely. You get very tasty coffee in a reasonable brewing time, one cup at a time.

Pros of the Keurig K Mini

• Incredibly compact design, and lightweight too. Lots of colors to choose from.
• Access to the full Keurig K-Cup pod range.
• Removable drip tray makes cleaning easy, and you can use larger travel mugs after doing so.
• Hot water option lets you make many other drinks including tea and hot chocolate.
• Auto Off function turns the machine off after 90 seconds of inactivity, saving energy bills.
• The Keurig experience within an affordable price range.

Cons of the Keurig K Mini

• A barebones, single serve Keurig coffee maker with no water reservoir.
• Two minute brew time, every time.
• No strength control options. Go for the 6 ounce serving if you need a bigger kick.
• Restricted to Keurig K-Cups, or ground coffee using the Keurig K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter (purchased separately).
• No compatibility with K-Mug or K-Carafe pods due to that lack of a water tank. If you’re filling travel mugs, you might need to use multiple pods.
• The coffee brewed is frequently described as lukewarm – don’t expect a scorching hot brew here!

Specs

• Brewing System Size</s: 6, 8 & 10 ounce cup sizes
• Size: 10.7 x 6.9 x 10.8 inches
• Weight: 11 pounds
• Water Reservoir: No
• Removable Drip Tray: Yes
• Cord Storage Feature: Yes
• Colours: Black, Chili Red, Greenery, Jade, Platinum, Plum, True Blue

Features Of the Keurig Mini K15

That’s a very broad overview of what to expect from this Keurig coffee maker.

In the rest of my Keurig K15 coffee maker review, I’m taking a closer look at some of the machine’s main features in greater detail.

After that I’ve included a quick look at some of my favorite alternative coffee makers if you want to keep shopping around.

K-Cup Compatibility

The Keurig K15 is compatible with the entire range of official Keurig K-Cups.

This means you have access to hundreds of different flavours, from dozens of brands. These can prove expensive to buy over time though, and unless you recycle them properly they aren’t great for the environment either.

If you want to go off-brand, there are plenty of pods that will fit in here. Just remember that you’ll void your warranty if anything goes wrong as a result of using them!

Fortunately the Mini K15 is compatible with the Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter. You’ll need to buy that accessory separately, but it means you can use your favourite coffee grounds instead of pods.

As there’s no water tank, the machine is not compatible with Keurig K-Carafe or K-Mug pods. Something to keep in mind if you were planning on making bigger brews.

Removable Drip Tray

The drip tray on the Keurig K15 is very easy to remove, and cleaning it is a doddle.

That easy maintenance also applies to the whole machine, thanks to a plastic shell that may not look as good as stainless steel, but wipes down very easily.

I also like that the removable tray allows you to put a larger mug beneath the spout. Just remember that you’ve a maximum 10 ounce brew capacity to play with unless you want to drink some seriously weak coffee!

Rapid Single Serve Brewing

It takes around two minutes to get a single cup of coffee from the Keurig K15 Mini. This is largely due to the absence of a water tank, which means the water has to be heated from scratch every time.

I only really recommend this machine to people who want one or two cups of coffee a day at most. The drink you get tastes great – if a little cool for my liking – but you have to refill the machine each time.

For that same reason, it’s not really designed for entertaining lots of people. Not unless you want to make a lot of awkward small talk while working through the guest list anyway!

As for taste, you will need to brew a 6 ounce serving for the strongest flavor. The 10 ounce serving by comparison is a little disappointing.

If you want to make other drinks with the K15, such as cocoa or tea, the hot water function is good enough for the job. It’s not boiling hot by any means, but it’s warm enough.

Finally, the Auto Off function kicks in after each brew, or after 90 seconds of inactivity. I like that it saves me at least a little bit of money on my energy bills, while also respecting the environment.

Size & Design Of The Keurig K15 Mini

One of the big selling points for the Keurig K15 Mini is its small footprint. I could think of many situations where this would be an advantage:

• Garden offices
• Small Kitchens
• Student accommodation
• Office desks
• Camper vans / RVs

It’s also extremely lightweight, which is great if you’re going to be moving the machine around regularly.

How Easy Is It To Use

Keurig machines are designed to be extremely easy to use and easy to clean. I definitely found that to be the case with the Keurig K15

Coffee brewing doesn’t get much simpler than this:

• Fill your cup with water and add to the machine.
• Place the cup beneath the spout.
• Add your Keurig K-Cup.
• Hit the Brew button.
• Wait around two minutes.

It’s simple enough for anyone to use, in other words, but you don’t get access to some of the fancier Keurig features like Strength Control or High Altitude.

For a complete beginner though I actually think this is a good thing, as you cannot even hope to go wrong here!

Cleaning & Maintenance Of The Keurig K15

As with every coffee maker, a little bit of care and maintenance goes a long way with the Keurig K15.

Apart from giving the drip tray a once-over from time to time, it’s also recommended that you run a cup of water through the machine occasionally. That will give the interior a minor workout, and keep things in good condition.

You should also descale your Keurig machine every six months or so. That will flush out any calcium deposits that have accumulated. If you’re in a hard water area you might want to descale more often than that.

It’s a very easy machine to descale though. All you have to do is run your descaling solution through the Keurig a few times, then follow up with clear water to get rid of any excess solution.

Not only does descaling the K15 coffee maker make your brew taste better, it’ll also preserve the machine’s life. Those mineral deposits can mess with the inner working of the machine if left unchecked.

If you run into any other issues and have misplaced the Keurig K15 manual, head over to the official Keurig page where you’ll be able to grab a digital copy.

Alternative Single Serve Coffee Makers

There are some other machines that compare favourably with the Keurig K15 Mini. Consider whether these options might be better for you instead:

Keurig K55 Classic Coffee Maker

Keurig’s K55 model is a little bulkier than the Keurig K15, but it does come with a 48 ounce water reservoir. That’s enough for a good four or five coffee servings.

Although the first brew of the day will take around four minutes to complete, cups after that take a minute or less. Once the machine has warmed up, you’ll have no trouble keeping your guests caffeinated.

Have a look at my in-depth Keurig K55 review if you want to take a closer look at this machine instead.

Keurig K250 Pod Coffee Maker

The Keurig K250 is compatible with what’s known as K-Mug and K-Carafe pods.

That means you can make larger travel brews, or serve many guests with one preparation. You’ll need to buy those Keurig accessories separately, but it’s nice to be able to upgrade.

The water tank of the Keurig K250 has a capacity of 40 ounces. Again, you’re looking at getting around four cups from this coffee maker before you have to fill it back up.

I’ve got more detail about the pros and cons of this machine in my Keurig K250 review.

Cuisinart SS-5 Single Serve Coffee Maker

Cuisinart’s SS-5 single serve coffee maker has a much more industrial aesthetic.

The good news is that it’s still compatible with the Keurig K-Cup range. It’s also another fairly compact machine, while also offering a 40 ounce water tank.

It has an auto shut-off, but that only kicks in after 30 minutes of inactivity. It’s not quite as efficient as the Keurig brewing system in that sense.

The Final Verdict

If what you want is a great cup of coffee, with no mess or fussing around then I highly recommend the Keurig K15 Mini.

It’s compact, very portable and super-versatile as a result.

I struggle to think of a place where I need a coffee machine, but couldn’t make space for this.

As long as you understand the limitations of the Keurig K15 in terms of brewing capacity and strength options, I think you’ll find this machine a neat little addition to your kitchen area – wherever it is.

Click here to learn more about Keurig K15, and read other user reviews on Amazon.